Sewing apparatus



June Z9, 1954 v. M. NEWMAN SEWING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l ummlylunwlluh lMilli 1 MHH" Filed May 23, 1951 INVENTOR.

VICTOR M. NEWMAN ATTORNEY June 29, 1954 v, M NEWMAN 2,682,241

SEWING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 2O ZZ INVENTOR.

m m Kd vlcToR M. NEWMAN Y/ 4 4 A BY 7 Ty @1.16 /fMQ/fa ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing apparatus designed to produce a slipstitch in fabrics. The instant application is a continuation in part of my prior applications Serial No. 75,595 filed February 10, 1949, now Patent No. 2,608,170, dated August 26, 1952 and Serial No. 152,445 filed March 28, 1950. However, whereas my prior applications were particularly described in connection with machines for sewing necktie fabrics and linings together, the present application discloses a machine having a broader purpose in that it includes such functions in addition to the general function of sewing through any type of fabric with slip stitches.

The use of sewing machines having opposed sets of crimpers which form an elongated substantially continuous needle hole for the reception of an elongated needle has been known. However, a pronounced objection to prior apparatus was complexity of construction as well as frequently improper formation of the continuous opening or path for the needle. If the path of the needle is poorly formed, needle breakage and otherwise improper operation is probable. The present application is directed to a machine which substantially eliminates any such previously encountered difficulties by providing needle hole formation means which is almost foolproof. Such needle hole formation means operates in a very limited path wherein possible deviation from proper action is minimized, if not entirely eliminated.

The invention also discloses a sewing apparatus wherein the fabric to be sewed is embraced between opposed machine elements before the crimping action is initiated. This-represents a considerable improvement over prior devices wherein crimping was accomplished simultaneously with embracing the fabric between opposed members. One advantage of such improved operation is that the fabric may be properly laid out and inspected to a large degree for distortion or displacement while it is placed between the opposite elements of the machine and up to the time the crimpers are put into action.

The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine constructed according to the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevational View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, as taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4, partly broken away.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5--6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the machine in a closed position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but illustrating the action of the crimp rods.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross action view taken along the lines III-I 0 of Fig. 7.

The apparatus comprises a pair of platform 20 and 2| which are formed with ears 22 wherein are disposed pivots 23 so that the platforms 2U and 2| are pivotally connected. The platforms may rest on a table T, platform 2| being secured thereto by bolts 24 so that platform 20 is the movable lplatform in that it is adapted to be pivoted and thereby superimposed over the stationary part of the apparatus as represented by platform 2| and the elements supported by it.

Platform 20 has secured thereto as by bolts 25, the elongated strip 26 over which the fabric F may be initially deposited. In order to render the apparatus adjustable so that fabrics may be sewn along desired lines, bolts 25 are received through elongated slots 2l so as to permit a transverse adjustment and then tightening of the strip 26 on the platform 20.

Strip 26 comprises a consecutive series of grooves or scallops separated by straight portions. Thus, straight surfaced portions 28 are arranged in staggered relation with grooves or scallops 29. This formation is repeated throughout the length of strip 26. The straight Iportions are provided with impaling needles 3U as well as impaling needle holes 3| so that the fabric F may be deposited and maintained in place while platform 2| is pivoted. The platform may be locked in superimposed position by either or both of pivoted latches 31 and pins 38.

Strip 26, as thus far described, makes no provision for the needle path for the elongated sewing needle. This requirement is served by the elongated rectangular rod 32 which is connected to the side of strip 26 by bolts 33. A shim 34 serves to maintain a spacing between the rod 32 and strip 26 in order to provide an open ended slot or channel r35. Slot or channel 35 permits the fabric and thread to be removed from strip 26 after the sewing action, as will be hereinafter made clear.

Rod 32 is formed with short slot lengths or portions 36 each of which communicates with slot 35. Slot portions 36, although they are aligned, actually form a discontinuous slot because their continuity is interrupted by the concavities of the grooves or scallops 29. It is into these interruptions or discontinuities that the crimper rods push the fabric while simultaneously applying slot lengths therein as will hereinafter be made clear.

Stationary platform 2| supports strip Ml which is coextensive with strip 26. It is similarly formed with straight portions 4| and scalloped or grooved portions 42. However, scalloped portions 42 have rotatably mounted therein the substantially cylindrical crimper rods 43. Scallops 29 are designed to meet scallops 42 forming a cylindrical chamber which, as illustrated in Fig. 10, is substantially of the same diameter as crimper rods 43. However, in the form shown scallops 42 actually occupy about 200 degrees of the circle, scallops 29 occupying the remaining 160 degrees. The reason therefor is to prevent the crimper rods 43 from falling out of the scalloped portions 42 although the same objective may be reached by enveloping the crimper rods 43 by the scallops 42 along the non-functional front end portions of the rods.

Rods 43 have fiattened end portions 44, laterally of which are disposed arcuate slot lengths or portions 45 which are transversely formed on the periphery of the rods. Each slot portions 45 extends transversely from the flattened section of the rod to about 90 degrees along the arcuate periphery, as illustrated in Fig. 9. It will be noted that the slot portions 45 are deepest near the flattened surface of the rod and become extinguished at the periphery approximately 90 degrees away.

The principal functions of the crimper rods 43 are to crimp or corrugate the fabric after it has been embraced between the strips 26 and 40, and further to create a continuous needle hole or path by properly interposing slot portions 45 between slot portions 36. Slot portions 45 and slot portions 36 are disposed equidistantly from the pivot line 50. Accordingly, when platform 20 is swung over platform 2| and the crimpers operated, the respective slot portions will complement each other in alignment so as to form the required needle path.

As will now be described, rods 43 are mounted for rotatable action wherein slot portions 45 travel in a Vertical plane. It is highly desirable, in a machine of the form shown, to confine the travel of slot portions 45 in such a vertical plane because proper mating with slot portions 36 is thereby assured. On the other hand, if rods 43 were to be permitted a degree of movement along their longitudinal axes it might be possible to misalign the respective slot portions, a condition which would be highly objectionable for reasons above described. Accordingly, means are provided to permit rotation of rods 43 on the strip but preventing longitudinal movement thereof. Such means take the form of elongated bar 5| which is connected as by bolts 52 to the side of strip 40. Bar 5| is received in a peripheral slot 53 formed transversely in each of the rods 43. Bar 5| thus acts as a key and slot 53 as a keyway in permitting rotational movement of the rods 43 but preventing longitudinal shifting or displacement thereof.

As will now be described, all of the rods 43 are simultaneously rotated in order to form the required needle hole while crimping the fabric. In order to effect such simultaneous action, each rod is pivotally connected to shifting bar 55 by links 56, pivots 57 serving to connect links 56 to shifting bar 55. Operation of shifting bar 55 to the left, as illustrated in Fig. 2, causes all of the rods 43 to rotate in a clockwise direction. As viewed in Fig. 1, such rotation causes the left edge of the flattened portion to rise so as to both crimp the fabric and bring slot portions into alignment with slot portions 36, as illustrated in Fig. 9. Thus, by the actuation of bar all the rods 43 are rotated and the required needle path is formed.

In a machine of this type it is considered desirable to effect actuation of bar 5,5 by the 'legs of the operator so as to leave their hands freek. Accordingly, downwardly depending bars '58 and 59 are connected to bar 55 so as to be generally at the level of the operators knees. As viewed in Fig. 2, if the bar 55 is to be shifted to the left. the operator pushes against bar 58 with his left knee. Obviously, when returning the crimper rods to normal position he presses his right knee against bar 59.

Strip 40 is provided with impaling needle holes 60 as well as needles 6| which mate with impaling needles 30 and holes 3| respectively of the strip 26. For pieces of fabric which are disposed only on strip 26, it is only necessary to use impaling needles on that one strip only. However, since in some cases fabrics will be laid over both strips when they are horizontal, it is considered desirable to have impaling needles on both strips to hold the fabric in position.

Having described the construction of the instant sewing machine, its operation will now be explained:

Assuming that fabric F is to be stitched, it is deposited over strip 26 as illustrated in Fig. 1 where it will be retained by the impaling needles 30. Of course, if another piece of fabric or lining is to be stitched thereto it will be laid over the fabric F. Bar 55 will be in its normal position to the right so that all the flattened end portions 44 of crimping rods 43 are in a horizontal plane. Platform 2D is then swung over so that strip 26 rests on strip 40 and its crimper rods as illustrated in Fig. 7. The disposition of the scallops and fabric will then appear as in the enlarged View of Fig. 8. It will be noted that the flattened portions 44 are horizontal, and that the fabric F is straight and undistorted and disposed between the strips 26 and 40. Any undue distortion will probably be noted since the fabric is largely ex.- posed to View as illustrated in Fig. 7. Of course, such distortion may be corrected by merely returning the platform 2|) to normal position.

The operator then shifts bar 55 so as to rotate the rods 43. This causes the edge of the flattened portion 44 in which the slot 45 is formed to rise so as to lift the fabric into the path between the slot portions 36 as illustrated in Fig. 9. At the same time, slot portions 45 are brought into the interruptions of the slot portions 36 so as to form an aligned needle path with the fabric periodically raised above the path so that the raised portions may thereafter be stitched by a needle driven through that path. Thus, needle which is provided with thread 66, is driven through the aligned slot portions 36 and 45 as illustrated in Fig. 9. This causes all the raised portions to be stitched. When the needle and thread emerges from the other end of the slot, as illustrated by the broken lines of Fig. 9, the thread is retained either manually or by a hook which may be formed on the machine. The needle 65 is then withdrawn, leaving the thread in the fabric. A satisfactory apparatus for driving the needle 65 is illustrated by my U. S. Patent No. 2,522,582.

After the stitching operation described above has been effected, the rods may be rotated back to their normal position, and the platform 20 swung back into its normal position of horizontal alignment with platform 2|. The fabric F, having been stitched, may now be removed from strip 26, the stitches being removable through the open ended slot 35 which was described in connection with Fig. 3. If other pieces were laid over fabric F, they are stitched together therewith. It will further be recognized that if it is desired to adjust the length o f the stitches, bar 55 may be shifted to intermediate positions so that lesser portions of the fabric are lifted into the formed needle path.

It will be recognized that the most critical operation in machines of this type, that is the formation of the needle path as the fabric is crimped, has been reduced to a simple rotational movement which hardly permits misalignment or mistake. Other advantages of the machine will be evident to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. A sewing apparatus comprising a iirst strip adapted to support a length of fabric to be stitched, a second strip adapted `to be superimposed over said first strip with the fabric therebetween, one of said strips being scalloped with substantially planar portions between the scallops, aligned slot lengths being formed through said planar portions, and rods on said second strip for crimping the fabric, said rods fitting into said scallops when the strips are superimposed, said rods having slot lengths formed therein which are adapted to align themselves with the planar portion slot lengths to form a needle path for permitting the travel of a needle therethrough as the fabric is crimped.

2. A sewing apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said rods are rotatably mounted on said second strip said rods having flattened portions with their slot lengths transversely formed on the periphery thereof adjacent said flattened portions, rotation of said rods both elevating spaced portions of said fabric into said planar portion slot lengths by the crimping action thereof and applying the rod slot lengths between and in alignment with said planar portion slot lengths to form said needle path.

3. A sewing apparatus comprising a first strip adapted to support a length of fabric to be stitched, a second strip adapted to be superimposed over said first strip with the fabric therebetween, one of said strips being scalloped with substantially planar portions between the scallops, aligned slot lengths being formed through said planar portions, rods on said second strip for crimping the fabric, said rods fitting into said scollops when the strips are superimposed, said rods having slot lengths formed therein which are adapted to align themselves with the planar portion slot lengths to form a needle path for permitting the travel of a needle therethrough as the fabric is crimped, said rods being rotatably' mounted on said second strip, said rods having flattened portions with their slot lengths transversely formed on the periphery thereof adjacent said flattened portions, rotation of said rods both elevating spaced portions of said fabric into said planar portion slot lengths by the crimping action thereof and applying the rod slot lengths between and in alignment with said planar portion slot lengths to form said needle path, rotation of said rods shifting said rod slot lengths directly under said fabric spaced portions so that said needle travels through said spaced portions and over the remainder of the fabric, and an actuating bar connected to all of said rods for rotating them.

4. A sewing apparatus comprising a first strip adapted to support a length of fabric to be stitched, a second strip adapted to be superimposed over said first strip with the fabric therebetween, one of said strips being scalloped with substantially planar portions between the scallops, aligned slot lengths being formed through said planar portions, rods on said second strip for crimping the fabric, said rods fitting into said scallops when the strips are superimposed, said rods having slot lengths formed therein which are adapted to align themselves with the planar portion slot lengths to form a needle path for permitting the travel of a needle therethrough as the fabric is crimped, all of said rods being connected for simultaneous rotation for aligning their slot lengths with the planar portion slot lengths, said rods being keyed against movement parallel to their longitudinal axes.

5. A sewing apparatus for receiving an elongated threaded needle, said apparatus comprising a first strip adapted to support a length of fabric to be stitched, a second strip pivotally mounted in respect to said first strip and adapted to be superimposed thereover with the fabric disposed therebetween, an elongated bar disposed adjacent to one of said strips said bar being spaced from said one strip so as to leave an opening therebetween, said bar being formed with interrupted, aligned slot lengths forming a discontinuous slot, each of said slot lengths communicating with said opening between said bar and said one strip, both said one strip and said bar being formed with alternately arranged grooves, thek grooves of the respective strip and bar being in alignment, said slot lengths being formed substantially between 'the grooves of said bar, and rod members for urging spaced portions of the fabric into the aligned strip and bar grooves, said rod members being formed with slot lengths which align themselves with the bar slot lengths when the spaced portions of the fabric are urged into the grooves, all of the slot lengths forming a needle path whereby the elongated needle may be passed through the path and through said spaced portions of the fabric.

6. A sewing apparatus according to claim 5 and wherein said rod members have flattened ends, said rod members being rotatable so as to raise the edges of their attened ends for urging the fabric into the grooves, said rod member slot lengths being formed laterally of their fiattened edges and continuing transversely along the periphery of the rod, all of said rod members being joined for common actuation.

7. A sewing apparatus adapted to receive an elongated threaded needle, said apparatus cornprising a first strip adapted to support a length of fabric to be stitched, a second strip pivotally mounted in respect to said first stri'p and adapted to be pivoted and superimposed thereover with the fabric between the strips, one of said strips being scalloped with substantially planar portions between the scallops, align-ed slot lengths being formed through said planar portions, rotatable rods on said second strip having elements which rise when the rods are rotated for urging the fabric into the scallops and thereby crimping it, said rods having slot lengths formed therein which align themselves with the planar portion slot lengths when the rods are rotated to form a needle path for permitting the travel of a needle therethrough when the fabric is crimped, and impaling means formed on at least one of the strips for holding the fabric thereon when the second strip is pivoted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 631,537 Coleman Aug, 22, 1899 788,081 Wolkan Apr. 25, 1905 2,383,654 Johnson et al Aug. 28, 1945 

